Modern Stereo

[firedome]

A bit closer to MD...

Audio Classics in Vestal NY (Binghamton) is probably the best known vintage audio repair and service business in the world, one of McIntosh'd largest dealers, and is known for excellent repair service, also not cheap, but done right. One of their "repair guys" is Richard Modafierri, retired McIntosh engineer and designer of several of the Mac tuners, now in his 70s he works part time from his home doing some of their repair work, just to keep busy, sort of typical of the caliber of work that AC does... http://www.audioclassics.com They will take shipments for repair, call the Service Dept to arrange.

 

[whirlcool]

A lot of times when repairing vintage pieces such as turntables and cassette decks parts can be a problem. Since a lot of stereo specialty retailers have closed up shop parts can be hard to find.

Believe it or not I have found some hard to find turntable parts on Ebay from time to time.

 

[hydralique]

I Wonder . . .

If there is a good vintage audio repair place in LA? Seems like there would be. I have some equipment that needs attention and would rather not ship it or have to drive to San Diego. Recently my Rotel RB-850 power amp has developed some random static in the left channel. This could be an interconnect so I'm not sure it's the amp, but on the other hand it's been in daily use since purchased in '89 or '90 so quite possibly a cap is getting old.

 

I also have a couple of receivers that haven't been turned on in years: a KLH Model 52 from '74 and a Fisher 800C. The KLH has lots of sentimental value given that I mowed lawns as a teen to buy it - my mother had to drive me to the audio store when I bought that and a long-gone Dual 1225 as I was too young for a driver's license! It was working fine aside from the panel lights when I replaced it with the Rotel amp and tuner/preamp. The Fisher is from the mid '60s and was part of my uncle's system, I always remember it on the shelf but it was clearly not in use when he passed last year as it was not connected. It has a nice wood case and all tubes are in place. I'd like to have someone with experience power these up on a variac and give an estimate of what they might need instead of me just plugging them in. Perhaps it would be safe with the KLH since it's solid state but I'd be scared of doing that with the Fisher. Happily it does seem that there is some support for the 800C out there; I guess they were made for a long time.

 

[paulg]

Paul's McIntosh is MC75

Yes I love my EICOs but I really want to do McIntosh.
Mine is an MC75... And I need a second one.
And NO I won't sell it... actually for sentimental reasons....

 

[beekeyknee]

Thanks, Roger. I'll look into that. I know it's not going to be cheap to have this work done, but I'm willing to pay to have my classics back.

Allen- I too have noticed finding parts is a issue. I've been looking at ebay, but no luck so far. The power switch in that receiver seems to be a problem for a lot of people and they are NLA, of course. It seems too many functions were directed through that switch. I will continue to press on and thanks for the input, guys.

 

[whirlcool]

What you have to do is find a repair shop that used to do warranty work for a stereo shop or a guy who used to work in the repair division of a stereo repair facility.
Roses Electronics is like that. The guy who runs it used to be the head tech for Houston's best stereo specialty shop and when they closed their doors in 98' the owner turned over all the equipment and spare parts inventory to him. So he has a ton of spare parts on hand, but charges out the you know what for them.

 

[beekeyknee]

OK. Thanks, Allen. I hadn't thought of that. I'll see if I can get in touch with him.